Recent updates


Recent Comments

 

Swiftsure

55
Nominal Guns46B028
NationalityKingdom of England
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered2.1621BWAS-1603
Launched1621B028
How acquiredPurpose builtB028
ShipyardDeptford Dockyard - Deptford B028
Constructor
William BurrellBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Service 1607-1630
B028
CategorySecond RateB028
Ship TypeGreat ShipB028
Broken Up to Rebuild1654B028
Becomes

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB065
Length of Keel106' 0"Imperial Feet32.3088 
Breadth35' 10"Imperial Feet10.668 
Depth in Hold16' 9"Imperial Feet4.9149 
Burthen876Tons BM 
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Keel106' 0"Imperial Feet32.3088 
Breadth35' 10"Imperial Feet10.668 
Depth in Hold16' 9"Imperial Feet4.9149 
Burthen746Tons and Tonnage 
Burthen559Baker's Rule Tons 

Armament


1625Broadside Weight = 267 Imperial Pound ( 121.0846 kg)B065
Gun Deck2 British Demi-Cannon
Gun Deck2 British Cannon-Perrier
Gun Deck16 British Culverin
Gun Deck12 British Demi-Culverin
Gun Deck4 British Saker
Gun Deck2 British Falcon
Gun Deck4 British Fowler

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1625250Establishment = 150 Mariners, 30 Gunners and 70 SoldiersB065
3.1651/52260 BWAS-1603
1653400 BWAS-1603

9 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
1625Captain
Samuel ArgallBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1620-1625
BWAS-1603
1628Captain
John BurleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1628-1637
BWAS-1603
1635 - 1636Captain
Sir John PenningtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1620-1643
BWAS-1603
1637Vice-Admiral
Sir John PenningtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1620-1643
BWAS-1603
1640Rear-Admiral
John PoveyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1628-1660
BWAS-1603
1643 - 1644Captain
Robert MoultonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1643-1652
BWAS-1603
1647Captain
Thomas DavisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1647
BWAS-1603
1650 - 1652Captain
John GilsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1644-1652
BWAS-1603
1650 - 1653Captain
Anthony HouldingBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1650-1654
BWAS-1603

1 Flag Officer


DatesRankNameSource
10.1653 - 1654General at Sea
George MonkBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1653-1666
BWAS-1603

2 Warrant Officers


DatesRankNameSource
27.3.1649 - 1649Cook
Thomas FaithfulBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1649
SPD-1651
1652 - 7.1652Gunner
John FiggBritish
Naval Sailor
SPD-1651-2

Service History


DateEventSource
1623Voyage to SpainBWAS-1603
1625Flagship of the Vice-Admirals squadron on the expedition to CadizTRN2
1625Sailed for CadizBWAS-1603
1625Attack on Cadiz
1628At La RochelleBWAS-1603
1632Refitted as a 42 gun Second Rate
1635In the ChannelBWAS-1603
11.1635Took the Privateer
Name Unknown (6) 1635-1635
Dutch 6 Gun
Privateer Unknown

1643In the ChannelBWAS-1603
1647At PortsmouthBWAS-1603
1650On the West coastBWAS-1603
30.11.1650Sailed from Spithead as part of a squadron under Vice-Admiral William Penn consisting in addition of
Centurion (34) 1650-1689
British 34 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
,
Foresight (34) 1650-1698
British 34 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
,
Pelican (34) 1650-1656
British 34 Gun
4th Rate Ship
and
Guinea (30) 1649-1667
British 30 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line

1.1651The squadron was joined by the
Fairfax (52) 1650-1653
British 52 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
and some "frigates"

29.3.1651The squadron passed the straits into the MediterraneanTRN2
25.7.1651Arrived in MaltaTRN2
9.1651The squadron was in the StraitsTRN2
10.1651Near GibraltarTRN2
1652Refitted as a 46 gun Second Rate
30.3.1652Arrived in FalmouthTRN2
1653Refitted as a 64 gun Second Rate


Fleets

DatesFleetFleet CommanderSource
1650-1650Summer Guard of 1650  
29.9.1654-8.1657Fleet for the Mediterranean
Robert BlakeBritish
Naval Sailor
Soldier
Service 1649-1657
 
 
Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page







Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Monday 8th of June 2026 17:20F.F.
British First Rate ship of the line 'Britannia' (1762) (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01James Daschuk
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56AvM
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37Jon Miller
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33Jon Miller
British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship